Question

How can nature and nurture impact middle childhood development (ages 6-11).

Answer 1

The nature versus nurture debate has been around the corner for the longest time now. Nature refers to the inherited genes which is responsible for personal dispositions (traits) and nurture refers to the environmental factors. Both nature and nurture play a important role in influencing one's behaviour.

For instance, aggression can be both inherited or a product of environmental conditioning. An individual maybe temperamental, perhaps because his parents are temperamental and thus, the genes inherited are responsible for his disposition. However, aggression is also a learnt behaviour. Media violence, peer company, violence in the family are major reasons why an individual imitates the behaviour which is learnt through observation. If a child grows up in a violent environment, sees his father throwing things around, beating up his mother, is most likely to either exhibit the same behaviour or refrain from exhibiting aggression because he never wants to be like his father. It depends from person to person. This is where nature and nurture interact.